What it is: A U.S.-built replacement for the slow-selling Passat. Larger and less expensive than VW’s current mid-sizer, the new car is aimed directly at the mainstream Honda Accord and Toyota Camry customer.
Why it matters: VW needs to increase North American sales and profits. The Passat and the CC are too costly and small to do well against the Camry and the Accord. The new plan: Make it bigger and cheaper to produce while maintaining VW’s autobahn-bred character.
Platform: Its new, transverse-engine, front-drive platform will be shared throughout the VW empire. The New Mid-Size Sedan (NMS) will be the largest vehicle on this flexible architecture.
Powertrain: VW’s familiar 2.5-liter five-cylinder and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four show up. A 2.0-liter turbo-diesel would make sense should VW decide to take on the Camry and Ford Fusion hybrids.
Competition: Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry.
What might go wrong: It may be a good car, but VW has never been a real player in the mid-size mainstream game, and sales could be disappointing.
Estimated arrival and price: Built in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the NMS should arrive in late 2011 as a 2012 model. Expect pricing to mimic the Toyota Camry’s ($20,000 to $30,000), which would make it barely more expensive than the Jetta.
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